Method of and apparatus for air conditioning



Aug. 6, 1940. 1.. s. KEILHOLTZ I METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR AIR CONDITIONING Original Filed March 22, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. [es 562" f5. flez'lfioliz. KM M/Z ATTORNEYS- Aug. 6, 1940. 1.. s. KEILHOLTZ METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR AIR CONDITIONING Original Filed March 22, 1934 2 SheetsSheet 2 INVENTOR. 485562 & ffez'lfioldz. BY M W 4% A TTORNEYS.

' Patented Aug. 1940 UNITED STATES METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR All,

' CONDITIONING "mm s. Keilholtl, Highland Psi-k, Mich.

Continuation of application Serial No. 716,826.

March 22, 1934.

This application filed vember 16, 1936, Serial \No. 111,141-

BClaims.

This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus for air conditioning, and more particularly to a method and apparatus adapted for the localized conditioning of air withina spacesegregated within a large enclosure such as a room or the like, such localized air conditioning being effected without permitting objectionably large diffusion of the conditioned air.

The present application is a continuation of' my co-pending application Serial No. 716,826

. filed March 22, 1934.

Heretofore it has been common practice to condition the air in the space coextensive in volume with the entire enclosure, even though the space requiring effective conditioning may be but a small portion of such an enclosure. Such methods require very powerful equipment of a fixed or stationary character. Such equipment is often impractical and frequently pr-ohibitive in'price for installation in average dwellings, and particularly for lighter more or less temporary structures such as summer cottages or the like.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a system for air conditioning of a selected localized portion above the fioor area within a room or other enclosure without materially afiectingthe condition of the air in the other parts of such room or enclosure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a small, inexpensive and economical .unit for air conditioning, as well as a system of air conditioning particularly applicable to summer air conditioning whereby the person or persons who are to be directly benefited by the conditioning are so benefited without substantially changing the conditions in the air in the surrounding space.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a portable air conditioning unit which may be adapted to condition the air within a selected and changeable localized space, said space being only a portion of the entire volume of an enclosure.

It is a further object to provide an air conditioning unit adapted to condition the air surrounding a particular localized area within a room or other enclosure byprovision of cooling means in the form of a mechanical refrigerating.

unit of the type used in domestic refrigeration.

conditioning unit which is economical to manufacture, install and operate and which is adapted 55 or the like,

ing the areaadjacent a bed enclosed in It is a further object to provide a localized air Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

' Fig. 1 is an elevation partially in section of a portable localized air conditioning 'unit embodying-the present invention adapted particularly for summer air conditioning.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 in the direction of the arrows of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevation partially in section showing .a modified form of installation of a unit embodying the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation partially in section of a modified form of duct and nozzle assembly which may be used in the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line H in the direction of the arrows of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a view in perspective of a unit embodying the present invention utilized for coola plurality of folding screens.

Fig. 7 is a view in perspective of a modified form of unit and air circuit adapted for cooling the area adjacent a chair or similar object surrounded by a plurality of transparent folding screens.

Before explaining in detail the present inven tion it is to be-understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be. understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended tolimit the invention claimed herein beyond the requirements of the prior art.

Referring to the drawings, particularly to Fig. 1, II designates a localized area within a room or other enclosure, the air in which is to be conditioned in accordance with the present invention. The area It is segregated from the adjoining .air in the room by a current of conditioned air represented by the arrows H moving downwardly and outwardly from the discharge nozzle I! which is placed at a point adjacent the area ll, preferably at a point about such area. When the air is moving in the direction of the arrows II it forms a conical tent-like screen of conditioned air surrounding the area I. The condithe nozzle I! which communicate with the conditioned air supply duct l3. The conditioned air passes through the nozzle I! at a predetermined and controlled velocity and in a predetermined direction, and when it has travelled to a predetermined distance it is-caused to move inwardly and upwardly inside the cone and to be circulated throughout the entire area In. The path of return travel of the air is designated by the arrows M which show the air traveling in an upward direction and passing through an inner nozzle l5 which is connected with the return air duct IS. The nozzle construction here shown, comprising the outer nozzle l2 and the inner nozzle I5, is

preferably formed in such a manner that the nozzles are adjustable relative to each other to control the amount of diffusion of the conditioned air. This permits a definite control of the temperature within the conditioned area by control of the velocity of the air circulated therein.

In the embodiment of the invention here shown the return air duct I6 is placed inside the conditioned. air duct l3 and extends concentrically therewith throughout its length. This particular arrangement of the air ducts, however, is not essential and the ducts may be in the modified form shown in Fig. 5 which comprises two D-shaped duct members 13a and I 6a which are adapted to serve the same purpose as the duct members l3 and I5 respectively. The discharge and return air ducts may also have their discharge openings at diflerent levels as wellas in the same plane as here shown. In this embodiment of the invention a discharge nozzle of the modified form shown in Fig. 4 may be used, which consists of a flexible shell 20 which is.connected with the conditioned air duct He and is adapted to direct the conditioned air from the duct l3a in a downward and outward direction. Inside the flexible shell 20 is an inner nozzle2l which is connected with the return air duct lBa and acts to draw the air upwardly from the interior of the area to be conditioned. This type of nozzle is preferably adiustable so as to control the velocity of the air passing therethrough. This and other types of air discharge nozzles may be used, such for example as a pluralityof discharge rings, jets or the like. By suitable connections, any of these types of nozzles may be used with any of the types of ducts which may be used.

In the particular arrangement of air ducts shown in Fig. 1 the return air duct I6 is spaced apart from the conditioned air duct l3 by means of spacer elements I! as shown in Fig. 2. The opposite ends of the respective air ducts l3 and I6 are suitably connected with an air conditioning unit designated generally as 33. In this embodiment of the invention, the unit 33 comprises an enclosed casing 3|, preferably formed of sound and heat insulating material. Within the casing 3| a driving motor 32 is mounted and is connected by suitable means such as pulleys and belts or the like, with a refrigerant compressor 33 of any suitable design. The motor 32 also is employed to drive a blower or similar air circulating means 34.

While I have disclosed in the present embodiment one type of refrigeration equipment by way of example, it is to be understood that other types of such equipment may be used, such for example as the absorption type, adsorption type,

steam ejector type, circulating cold water or other liquid, water ice or solidified carbondioxide tioned air is supplied through discharge vents in types, within the scope of the present invention. Likewise, the air may be conditioned by direct or indirect contact therewith.

The refrigerating mechanism comprises in addition to the compressor 33 a condenser 35 and a motor actuated fan 33. The condenser 35 may be cooled by any suitable means such for example as the circulation of air from outside the room or from within the room. In place ,of air any other desired type of cooling of the condenser may be employed. Refrigerant from the compressor 33 passes through the feed pipe 31 to an evaporator 33, through which the return air is circulated in passing from the return air duct ii to the conditioned air duct I3. As shown in Fig. 1, the return air duct I6 is connected at one end with a housing 40 in which is placed a suitable air filter ll adapted to remove dust, pollen, insects, or similar foreign substances from the air prior to further conditioning of the air. After passing through the filter the air follows the direction of the arrows here shown and passes through the evaporator 33 where the air is cooled and dehumidified. In passing through the evaporator, the air is subjected to a washing and scrubbing action due to the presence of condensed moisture on the evaporator. This serves to further clean and purify the air as well as to increase its heat transferring efliciency prior to discharge into the duct l3. The air then passes through the air circulating member 33 and passes from such member to the conditioned air duct I3.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1 the entire unit is a portable unit which may be moved from place to place within the room. The refrigerant passing through the condenser 35 is cooled by air blown through the coils by means of the fan 36. Thus the air from the condenser 35 is discharged into the air in the room or other enclosure. In some types of installation this discharge of the air from the condenser 35 into the surrounding air may not be desirable and in such installations I prefer to use an air duct and hood 50. as shown in Fig. 3. The said air duct and hood 53 is secured to the cabinet 3| of the air conditioning unit 30 at a point adjacent the discharge of air flowing from the condenser 35, and has an open end which may be placed in an opening under a window sash 5|. In certain installations it may be placed in any other suitable opening communicating with the air outside of the room or other enclosed area. In this particular installation the air given oil by the condenser 35 is vented to the outside air and does not affect the air within. the room or other enclosed area.

I The conditioning unit may be placed at any desired point relative to the area to be conditioned, as for example outside a window, in the basement, suspended from the ceiling, etc., and I do not desire to be limited herein to any particular placement of such unit relative to the air to be conditioned.

The air ducts i3 and I 6 may be formed of any suitable material andmay be mounted as here shown or may be mounted with flexible or swivel connections both at the portions adjacent the nozzle l2 and at the portions connecting with the conditioning unit 33, and I do not intend that the present application shall be limited to any particular typeoi' material or construction of the said ducts.

Likewise, any type of air conditioning unit 33 may be employed. In the embodiment here shown the unit is particularly adapted for summer air conditioning in which the air is dehumidifled and cooled prior to its discharge through the nozzle l2. It is within the contemplation of my invention to provide a conditioning unit "for winter air conditioning in which the air may be warmed and humidified, or I may provide a combination summer and winter conditioning unit in which the air may be either cooled and dehumidified or heated and humidified depending upon the temperature conditions within the room or other enclosed area within. which the localized area is to be conditioned.

In the present embodiment of the invention I have disclosed an essentially portable unit. The invention is, however, adapted for use in connection with a centralized system in which a plurality of ducts lead from the conditioning unit to the localized areas to be conditioned. Also the present type of unit may be permanently placed adjacent the area to be conditioned.

In certain types of installations for example in a bedroom, where it may be desirable to confine the conditioned air to a limited' space, the area to be conditioned'may be segregated from the remainder of the room and I have shown in Fig. 6 one means by which this may be accomplished. As here shown a plurality of folding screens il formed with a rigid framework "a, preferably covered with a double thickness of transparent covering b such as Cellophane or the like, to insulate the screen surface so as to eiiect a substantially air tight enclosure, are placed adjacent the area inwhich the air is to be conditioned, here shown as comprising the area adjacent a bed il. In certain installations the screens may partially surround a portion of such area, as for example the sides or the ends only of the bed. By providing hinges along adjacent longitudinal edges of theadjoining frames a the screens 60 when not in use may be folded and stored in a relatively small space. The portable air conditioning unit described in detail in Fig. 1 is placed outside of the space surrounded by the portable screen GI and the nozzle l2 extends over the area at a point directly above the air to be conditioned. The circuit of air in this embodiment of the invention is the same as the circuit shown in Fig. 1.

The embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 7 utilizes a plurality of folding screens 6. similar in construction to the screens shown in Fig. 6. These screens are placed around the area to be conditioned, such as the area surrounding the chair 62, and a portable air conditioning unit embodying my invention is placed adjacent one side thereof. In this embodiment of the invention the portable air conditioning unit has a casing 3. similar to that of the conditioning units shown in the other embodiments of the invention. The conditioned air is discharged through a conditioned air duct It at a point adjacent the top of the screens CI. The air is preferably discharged through an elongated nozzle H which spreads the air over the top surface of the area. The air is directed through the nozzle II at a sufllcient velocity to travel in a substantially horizontal and downward direction over the top of the entire area to be conditioned. The return air duct 12 is provided with an elongated opening I3 which is placed at a point adjacent the bottom of the screens 6. and directly beneath the conditioned air duct Ill and the conditioned air nozzle II. A fan or blower of the type shown in Fig. 1 and an air conditioning element of the type shown in Pig. 1 are placed within the casing," and provide for the continuous circulation and conditioning of the air which is withdrawn from the area through the nozzle I3 and the return duct 1!. With this arrangement there is no necessity for providing a top portion on thescreened area as the discharge of cold air adjacentthe top serves to segregate the area and'to move downwardly in the area to cause circulation of the air therein.

- In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 and 6 it will be found that moisture will condense on the outside of the casing 3| adjacent the portion wherein the air is cooled when used for summer air conditioning. To catch such moisture as it drips therefrom I provide a drip pan II adjacent the point where the moisture will condense.

In a circuit embodying the present invention, objectionable odors, such for example as from tobacco smoke or the like, are removed from the conditioned air without diillculty, since asmall amount of room air is entrained by the circulation of the conditioned air and is recirculated therewith.

-The important feature of the present invention is the provision of a method of and apparatus for conditioning air'within a localized area within a room or other enclosure. I have found that the invention is particularly adapted for use in store windows for removing humidity from the ,windows and maintaining a predetermined temperature within the show space; and further that it may be used in green houses or the like where a particular plant or group of plants must have a different condition of temperature and humidity than the conditions of temperature and humidity within the greenhouse as a whole. The control system herein disclosed is adapted for all types of air conditioning equipment. The unit herein disclosed also is adaptable for use in commercial refrigeration of the storage box type in which it is desired to maintain produce or the likein a localized area at diflerent conditions of temperature and humidity than the conditions of temperature and humidity in the other portions of the storage box.

While the embodiment of the invention herein shown and described is a unitary structure within a casing, the invention may be embodied in any combination of the several elements even though each element be utilized as a separate unit and contained withinseparate casings.

I claim:

-1. A method oi. air conditioning which comprises segregating a localized space within a room or other enclosure by cutting off the air outside such space with a hollow stream of conditioned air previously cooled and dchumidifled, which conditioned air moves at its outside portions in a predetermined direction at a velocity greater than the velocity of the adjacent air and thereafter circulating through and mingles with the air within such segregated localized space thereby conditioning the same without eflecting substantial circulation in or conditioning of the air outside such segregated localized area, by continuously withdrawing air from the localized space at a point within said space, and reconditioning and recirculating said air at a rate approximately equal to the rate of discharge of the conditioned air in order to limit the diffusion of the reconditioned air.

2. The method of treating air within a-selected space in a room which comprises directing from a nozzle a stream 01 previously cooled and dehumidifled air in the form of a sheet oil hollow closed configuration,- said nozzle being positioned at a selected location in the room, and said stream moving at a velocity greater than that of the air normally withinthe room thereby forming a hollow stream of moving'air which encloses and segregates the space of the room which constitutes the interior of the sheet of air from other portions 01' the room, the said interior space being substantially coextensive with the selected space to be treated, and thereafter recirculating the air inside of the. said hollow air stream by continuously withdrawing air froma point lying within the space enclosed thereby.

3. The method of cooling the air within a segregated area in a room, which comprises discharging a current of conditioned air as a sheet extending, downwardly and outwardly from an overhanging nomle and moving at a velocity greater than the velocity of the air in the room adjoining such segregated area, thereby to form a substan-' tially hollow cone of moving air serving to create the said segregated area as well as an interior space within the cone substantially coextensive recirculating such reconditioned air throughout with by means of which air screen the said area is segregated from other portions of the room,

the aforesaid cooled air moving at a velocity greater than the velocity of the air in the room adjoining the said localized area, and thereafter circulating the air within such localized area by withdrawing air substantially entirely from within the screen of conditioned air and from a point lying within the plane of the point of discharge of the conditioned air.

5. A portable air conditioning unit adapted for l. segregating a selected space within a mass of air contained in a room or other enclosure and conditioning the air within such'space, said unit comprising air cooling, dehumidiiying and clean- 7 ing elements, an air circulating element, associated therewith and adapted to circulate air in contact with said cooling, dehumidifying and cleaning elements, and a series 01' air ducts having open terminal end portions adjacent said air circulating element, one of said ducts being adapted to withdraw the air to be conditioned and convey it in intimate contact with said air cooling, dehumidifying and cleaning elements, and another 01 said ducts being adapted to convey the conditioned air from said elements, said last named duct being provided with a terminus having outwardly flared spaced outer and inner walls, the latter being concentrically arranged within the former to form a single annular outwardly divergingmouth for the last said duct, whereby the :same is adapted to discharge the conditioned air as a conically projected hollow stream extendingfrom an open terminal end portion to a point adjacent the floor of the room. I

6. An air conditioning unit adapted to condition the air in a localized area in a room or other enclosure comprising a portable unitary air conditioning element and an element for segregating the said localized area from other portions of the room, concentrically arranged inner and outer 'air ducts interconnecting said elements and extending to a point above said unit, the inner duct being adapted to draw air inwardly from the localized area to be conditioned and the outer one to discharge conditioned air as a screen or curtain surrounding the localized area and thus to segregate the latter, and means forming a part of said segregating element which includes a nozzle secured'to the ends of said concentric air ducts and maintained above the area in which the air is to be conditioned, said nozzle havingan outwardly flared outer wall secured to said outer duct and an outwardly flared inner wall substantially parallel therewith but spaced therefrom and secured to said inner duct thereby-forming a single anmilar outwardly diverging air discharging opening about the periphery of the nozzle leading to the'outer one of the aforesaid concentric ducts andan air receiving opening defined by the inner walls alone leading to the inner duct.

LESTER S. KEILHOLTZ. 

